Football Association of Malawi Technical Director Benjamin Kumwenda is among the first 35 Technical Directors selected from the 211 FIFA Member Associations to participate in the first cohort of the FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma Course.

This is a two-year course which FIFA has introduced to develop technical leaders across its MAs for them to address technical issues in their associations.

The Course will involve both virtual and physical classes and the 35 Technical Directors will have their first block physical classes in Brazil between 10th to 17th May 2023.

“In January this year, FIFA told all Technical Director to send our CVs and in February I was told that I am one of the 35 people who have been selected to take part in the first cohort of the FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma Course.

“FIFA has planned to have 16 virtual classes and four physical sessions one of which take place in Brazil this month, then we have another on in Japan in December. The other two will take place in Europe in a country to be specified by FIFA later and the last one which will be our graduation will be conducted at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland.

“I am glad to be in the first cohort to start this journey and I hope that after the course, we will be able to handle all technical issues with expertise”, said Kumwenda.

Out of the 35 participants in the first Cohort, seven are from African countries namely Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Uganda and Egypt.

Meanwhile, Kumwenda is this afternoon expected to leave for Brazil through Chileka International Airport.